Formation dynamics of excited components in discharge XeCl laser plasma from the data of dye laser absorption probing

The absorption spectra in the 335-610 nm spectral range and the time dependences of the concentrations of Xe^*, He^*, Ne^*, Ar^*, Xe+*, Cl-, and XeCl* were measured by the pulse dye laser absorption (gain) probing of the active medium of a XeCl discharge laser for different buffer gas mixtures. The formation dynamics of excited atoms, ions, and excimer molecules is discussed. It is shown that at the initial stage of discharge the dominant process in the formation of XeCl* molecules is the "harpooning" reaction, whereas at the following stages the ion-ion recombination gains predominance. The rate constants of the ionic XeCl* formation reaction are determined for He, Ne, and Ar buffer gases.